Risk / Health Info for Afghanistan

If you travel to Afghanistan, you will need to make sure your shots are up to date, including polio, which is still present in the country. You should consider hepatitis A and B vaccinations, as well as typhoid, cholera and rabies shots. Tuberculosis is common in Afghanistan. Avoid getting bug bites, as there have been reports of dengue fever from mosquitoes, leishmaniasis from sandflies and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever from tick bites.

Afghanistan has sub-standard healthcare and medical facilities, although there are some private clinics in Kabul. Risk of infection runs high, and evacuation is rarely possible. Consult your provincial or territorial health authority before you leave Canada about getting health insurance.

Altitude in Afghanistan

Parts of Afghanistan are higher than 2,400m, and travellers planning to spend time at a high altitude should take steps to protect themselves against the potentially life-threatening acute mountain sickness. Your healthcare provider can help with this.

Dengue fever in Afghanistan

There have been cases of the mosquito-borne virus dengue fever in Afghanistan. Dengue fever is also known as breakbone fever because of the severe bone, joint and muscular pains it causes, in addition to flu-like fever and headache. There is no vaccine for dengue fever. Avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents (50% DEET) and by wearing protective clothing. Sleeping with mosquito nets is also recommended.

polio in Afghanistan